I work for an inflight entertainment company, booking films for airlines, and we have decided to put a 'themed collection' forward to one of our airlines highlighting the work of four top composers, showing five films for each of them that highlight their best or most important work. We obviously need to keep with popular ones (the airline will already be nervous that the theme seems a bit 'highbrow', so we need to stick with the 'rock stars' of scoring, if you will) and we have decided on:

Ennio Morricone John Williams Danny Elfman Hans Zimmer

So yes, there's no Goldsmith, I apologise to you all (though he is our first choice as a back-up), so I wondered if any of you would like to suggest five scores for any/all of these composers. I realise there will be some bitching about the composer choices, I know most of you just can't help yourselves, but please keep it to a minimum as these choices aren't changing, for now anyway.

Also, if Yor or someone comes in and starts bashing Zimmer I'm BEGGING you to just ignore it, I don't want this thread to get derailed. There are MANY other threads here where you can have a futile argument with a joke account if you wish, please don't make this one of them!

Oh and I should mention a restriction we have for John Williams, there can't be ANY Star Wars scores and the only Indy one allowed is Crystal Skull, as George Lucas doesn't want most of his films being played on planes.

For a selection like this, I think one has to focus on the composers' true BENCHMARK scores, even if they aren't your own personal favourites. Or at best ONE lesser-known gem and the other four cornerstones. They should also have a good genre mix and stylistic versatility to appeal to a wide audience.

So here is my suggestion:

Ennio Morriccone:

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (to represent the spaghetti westerns) ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA / MISSION TO MARS THE MISSION THE UNTOUCHABLES CINEMA PARADISO (for the 'kiddies'...and adults)

By the way, one of the big problems I experience on airplane film viewing is the SOUND (especially since you often need to use their own airplugs) -- since there is so much noise from the air condition and plane engine and other passengers that it tends to drown out the dynamics. And sound is very crucial in a 'themed' collection like this. How would you go about this problem?

Thanks Thor, that's a great list, just the sort of stuff I'm looking for!

As for the sound issue, which is a big one, unfortunately we don't have any input into the systems the airlines use or the quality of their audio, which is obviously a real shame. We can suggest ideas like having film scores playing in their passenger lounge at the airport though, even if it's only restricted to the VIP lounges (We had Bond-themed cocktails in their lounge for Skyfall, for instance). We are also planning to try and have all the scores available to listen to separately from the film which would still suffer from many of the same audio problems but would at least make it a little easier to appreciate than while watching the film where it also has to compete with effects and dialogue.

It's an unfortunate situation with films on planes, they just don't look and sound very good! eventually I think passengers will be able to stream the content on their iPads and such, which would be a slight improvement.

On a side note, if anyone has any general comments on inflight entertainment (like Thor's) and what you feel is missing that would be very welcome also as we're always looking for feedback!

I work for an inflight entertainment company, booking films for airlines, and we have decided to put a 'themed collection' forward to one of our airlines highlighting the work of four top composers, showing five films for each of them that highlight their best or most important work. We obviously need to keep with popular ones (the airline will already be nervous that the theme seems a bit 'highbrow', so we need to stick with the 'rock stars' of scoring, if you will) and we have decided on:

Ennio Morricone John Williams Danny Elfman Hans Zimmer

So yes, there's no Goldsmith, I apologise to you all (though he is our first choice as a back-up), so I wondered if any of you would like to suggest five scores for any/all of these composers. I realise there will be some bitching about the composer choices, I know most of you just can't help yourselves, but please keep it to a minimum as these choices aren't changing, for now anyway.

Also, if Yor or someone comes in and starts bashing Zimmer I'm BEGGING you to just ignore it, I don't want this thread to get derailed. There are MANY other threads here where you can have a futile argument with a joke account if you wish, please don't make this one of them!

With that said, give me your top 5s people!

Is it fair to assume that you would want to avoid any bad language, non-cartoon violence and "adult themes"? My good friend Thor has included "Once Upon a Time in America", for example, which has all of these in spades, plus the only version worth showing would certainly exceed the length of a package tour flight from Luton to Corfu!

It's actually only nudity that would be a real problem (and, of course, anything involving plane crashes). Airlines' morals are generally as skewed as American TV, so nudity is bad, but any amount of bad language and strong violence is fine! Sex is also mostly fine, as long as there's no topless female nudity or any full frontal.

I see. Well, there's some nudity in AMERICA, so maybe that goes out. There's nudity in SCHINDLER'S LIST too, but in a more gruesome context. Maybe both of those are 'too much' even though they showcase Morricone and Williams at their best.

If so, I would put in maybe MISSION TO MARS instead for Morricone and then maybe ANGELA'S ASHES for Williams in those spots. I could pick another Spielberg, but the point is to have a little bit of 'non-famous' things too. Everyone and their grandmother have seen E.T., for example.

I think Thor has made a very good list of suggestions. For the Morricone slate, I would just choose THE LEGEND OF 1900 instead of Mission to Mars. But I guess everyone else here can better judge how much appeal a movie has had over there.

Firstly: Hans Zimmer???? Why why why why? This is your chance to educate people and give them a decent listening experience. Instead you're going to affirm to them that the accessible bit of music in film "blah" by Hans Zimmer was actually good. This is a MISTAKE. Don't give this arranger anymore kudos as a composer. I believe he's a de-composer - of musicality and taste.

Secondly: You assume everyone owns an Apple product. Streaming movies from a PC in a plane via a crappy Apple product. Good luck with that.

THE LION KING (for the kiddies) THE ROCK GLADIATOR INCEPTION DRIVING MISS DAISY

None of these are suitable for airplane passengers' casual listening experience.

Lion King has no catchy theme (not to the general public anyway).

The Rock has dated horribly (Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is the updated "The Rock" but few of the general public knows that score).

Miss Daisy is little known.

Gladiator's most recognized element is Lisa's wailing (you can't play "Battle" to the general public because it's too aggressive and will offend young children) but many people don't like New Age World Music.

Inception? For an airplane ride? Are you trying to give the passengers heart attacks with those HORNS of DOOM?! --And it has no melodies and will be buried in the airplane engine noise.

Why don't you just pick your own list instead of undermining someone else's?

Because: (1) they're the most obvious choices yet they have caveats making them unsuited for airline passengers; (2) this is not a thread of "picking your top 5 scores"; (3) I've listed my choice already if you look up a little;

You're easily offended yeah? Don't get emotional when there is nothing personal.